Exploring Predictors of Medical Career Motivation Among Hawaiʻi High School Students

Abstract

Exploring Predictors of Medical Career Motivation Among Hawaiʻi High School Students

Cassidy Downs1, Alyssia Rossio1,3,4 , Jaimie Tom1,3, K. Kanoho Hosoda1,2

Affiliations: 1 John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaiʻi 2 Native Hawaiian Center of Excellence, Department of Native Hawaiian Health, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaiʻi 3 Office of Student Affairs, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaiʻi 4 University of Southern California

INTRODUCTION Hawaiʻi faces a significant physician shortage, which is seen more drastically on the outer Hawaiian islands. The University of Hawaiʻi John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) possesses great multicultural and community diversity within its student population. It is relative to explore why not as many students from outer islands go to JABSOM, or do not go on to practice within Neighbor Island communities.

OBJECTIVE This study aimed to examine the motivations of Hawaiʻi high school students to pursue a career in medicine following participation in a 4-hr pre-medical school outreach activity.

METHODS High school students across Hawaiʻi participated in a 4-hr pre-medical outreach workshop activity. After finishing the activity, participants completed a survey of self-reported questions, which were used to assess three measures: Medical Career Intentions (4 items; α = .90), Academic Confidence (4 items; α = .83), and Pre-Medical Values & Ethics (4 items; α = .85). All scales demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency. Responses to the four items of each scale were averaged to form a composite scale score, such that higher values reflected greater endorsement of the construct. Independent-sample t-tests were conducted to explore comparisons between Oahu and Neighbor Island students on these measures, and multiple regression analyses examined whether Academic Confidence and Pre-Medical Values & Ethics predicted Medical Career Intentions.

RESULTS. Findings indicated that all three measures were reliable and distinct measures of students’ trajectories toward pursuing medical careers. The overall regression model was statistically significant, F(2,128)=100.05, p<.001, explaining 61% of the variance in medical career intentions R2=.61, adjusted R2==.60. Students who reported greater Academic Confidence (β = .48, p < .001) and stronger Pre-Medical Values & Ethics (β = .36, p < .001) also reported higher Medical Career Intentions, as supported by a significant overall regression model (p < .001). Neighbor Island students scored significantly higher than Oʻahu students on Medical Career Intentions (p = .005), Academic Confidence (p = .013), and Pre-Medical Values & Ethics (p < .001).

DISCUSSION Students’ academic confidence and professional values significantly predicted their intentions to pursue a career in medicine. The stronger scores among Neighbor Island students suggest potential differences in educational experiences or program engagement. However, differences in participant backgrounds—specifically, Neighbor Island students’ enrollment in health career pathway courses compared to Oʻahu students’ participation in general STEM programs—may have influenced results. As well, there is potential for sampling bias as the responses to each of the survey constructs is self-reported by students and reflects intention as opposed to outcomes. This preliminary study offers valuable insight into evaluating the impact of JABSOM’s outreach initiatives and highlights the importance of targeted, inclusive programming to support future physicians across all islands of Hawaiʻi.

TARGET AUDIENCE Medical educators

REFERENCES

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